Chief Prelates Urge Appointment of Auditor General from Within Department ⚖️

• Key Demand: The Chief Prelates of the Malwatta, Asgiriya, Amarapura, and Ramanna Chapters have formally requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to appoint the next Auditor General from within the existing department, specifically naming senior official Dharmapala Gammanpila as a suitable candidate. • Current Vacancy: The post has been vacant since the retirement of W.P.C. Wickramaratne in April 2025. While Gammanpila served in an acting capacity until December 2025, the position remains unfilled following the Constitutional Council's reported rejection of several presidential nominees. • Economic Governance Impact: The Prelates emphasized that the Auditor General is vital for public finance oversight, transparency, and accountability. They cautioned that further delays in filling this constitutional office could harm public perception of the government's economic management and state resource accountability. • Institutional Integrity: The leadership argued against external appointments, citing the specialized technical and institutional demands of the department, which requires long-standing internal experience to effectively safeguard state resources. _Note: Based on official correspondence reported on January 28, 2026._